OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 73

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS. (Conducted by Magisxer, to whom all communications must be addressed.) [Magistkr will be gla<l to receive Nature notes, marked papers containing educational articles, diagrams, details o i experiments, etc., of scholastic interest to teachers and pupils. Correspondents must use only one side of the paper, and whether using a pen name or not, must send both name and address.! ARBOR DAY. It was in anticipation of Arbor Day that 1 gave last week several extracts from the parliamentary report On scenery preservation; and to-day 1 am giving a few more notes which may help to stimulate Arbor Day activities and encourage children to help to keep down their own and others’ destructive tendencies. A Frenchman once said that when an Englishman wants to enjoy himself he says, “Let's go out anß kill.” That may or may not be true; but it is true that boys do destroy trees. Well, let us try to got boys to act as rangers to protect plantations, and it maybe that, in another generation, we shall have stamped out vandalism. • But please do not blame boys for all the destruction that goes on. Perhaps 20 years ago I took part with others in planting two rows of trees, one on cadi side of a road. Wo had oaks, cabbage trees, beeches, etc., and were hoping in time to have a fine avenue. But what happened? Every one was rooted up, and, I am told, by young men and their seniors. To-day that avenue would have been" the pride of the district. But never mind the past. It is the present and the future we must look to. A WALK ALONG THE QUEEN’S DRIVE. Last (Saturday week I had the pleasure of a walk along the Belt with Mr Taimock, the superintendent of reserves, and Mr Chamberlain, who is acting as secretary for the Dunechn and Suburban Reserves Conservation Society during the absence of Mr A. Bathgate. Wo started at Cosy Dell, a most apt name, but we had our equanimity of mind disturbed by the desecration and ruthless mutilation of native shrubs and trees by the Public Works Department. It seems tint some complaints had been made by some who have no soul for beauty that the overhanging foliage kept the road damp. Perhaps it did. But the foliage also held up large quantities of water which would have washed out ruts in the road. ’Jhe road, however, has very Jittle traffic upon it, and what dampness might be perceptible in the winter was more than counterbalanced by the shade and coolness in summer. Again, the trees hacked down —not even cut down neatly—are thrown over the sloping side of the road to try and make good tinder for mischievous folk later on.

Just beyond Cosy Dell is the Maori Hill plantation, which is in a clearing from which a magnificent view of the city, the Ocean Beach, harbour, North-East - Valley, and so on is obtained. Here as elsewhere where the Conservation Society and Council have been at work are seats —jarrah seats, wood hard enough to turn the edge of most schoolboys’ knives. Passing along a little one nears Mr Theomin's. where a plantation of deciduous trees —chestnuts. English beeches, and oaks—lend variety to the native trees and shrubs.

Coming along towards the electric tram torininus one sees what has been done in that neighbourhood Have you heard of Ro-s’s, Tomlinson’s, and Ttu nbuTs . paddocks? Ross’s is soon to become a paddock of beauty, and will have a name more in keeping with its sylvan beauty. Already a large number of trees has been planted, and one passing along just now will sec boles by the score ready for Arbor Day. Tills is an area given up almost entirely to deciduous trees- elms, beeches, chestnuts, maples; and to cabbage trees, and in damp places, flaxes. Closer to the terminus is a plantation of mixed tiers planted years ago by school children, sotn.> of whom remember the part they then look hi the planting. One of these ex-pupils is Mo- Sontagg, of the Kaikorai Valley. On the bank on the upper side there are piano d, < r are to b> next week, native shrubs and mountain ash (rowan) trees. Ajtd where is Tomlinson's Paddock? Why, Jubilee Park, of course. It was actually mooted to cut it up into building sites! I remember once hearing Dr Waddell give a lecture in which be spoke scathingly of men so engrossed in money-making as to have the aesthetic sense absolutely wanting “Yes,’’ said be,” “these would turn the skv into a sheep walk and cut the ru tibow up into ribbons.” Well, Tomlinson’s Paddock wasn’t cut up into building sites, for some. public-spirited men, among them Mr Tbos. Brown and Mr A. Bathgate—the names of the others should bo known, too--blocked the proposal. But they did not stop at that. After saying that, the area should be kept intact as a city' lung, they set to work to make it a beauty spot. They put their hands into their pockets, and into the pockets of more or less willing victims, and a transformation was soon effect eel. The paddock became Jubilee Park, fittingly so, 1 .think, and particularly so when we remember that the name, in this ease, indicates the jubilee of a Queen during whose reign the British Empire took on such an undreamt of expansion. And tins expansion is shown in the park in this way: As far as climate will permit it is being made to represent the forest trees of the Empire. There is a scarcity of some, kinds, and an absence of others.' but time’will give Mr Tannock and the Conservation Society the opportunity to wipe out these deficiencies. Take a leisured walk through the park and pick out beeches, elms, oaks, evergreen oaks (only two), aspen (only one, and read up about it in the “Encyclopaedia Britannica”), the Douglas spruce known as the Douglas fir or Oregon pine, wattles. Canadian poplars, silver poplars, Dombardy poplars, golden willows, weeping willows, and goat willows, hi relies, thorns, rowans, beeches, chestnuts, a cabbage tree (only one) called Cordvline indivisa, quite distinct from the one common here. I dare sav there are ©there I did not know or did not bear’of; but if you boys and girls I am speaking to can recognise all I have named, you are doing very well, and, I am sure, willSJfcke an interest in seeing these develop, arm will also jealously guard those that are few in number. In the vicinity of the High Street School —elsewhere, too, for what T know —local residents are enthusiastic in planting, and many a little spot is being beautified by 'efiiderits and school children, and the Oon-

serration Society and Mr Tanncck working together. The more that take part in thcs< celebrations the more likelihood is ther< that what is done will not be undone b/ destroying hands Just a little growl! If the Education Board were to issue its circular in, say, March, better preparation could be made for Arbor Day celebration. It is a movement that should not be left so late before being taken up. Perhaps this is the reason why two or three of our schools are doing little or nothing this year. Teachers, however, are willing, but committees are not keen, or have even decided not to move at all.

Just another note: In Victoria some week* before Arbor Day teachers send in lists of trees required in connection with the school celebrations, and as far as possible the trees requisitioned are sent to the school from the Statq nurseries free of charge. Further, there is a School Horticultural Society, and schools in this society often specialise in some way—chrysanthemums, roses, wattles, gums, etc., —and 1 these arc distributed among the schools affiliated. That is a good idea, isn't it? Can something of tlie same, kind be organised here? EDUCATION BOARD’S CIRCULAR. Memorandum for School Committees and Head Tcachcrsf abridged).—The Education Board lias decided to recognise Wednesday. 20th hist., ns Arbor Day tor Dunedin ana suburbs, and has also appointed it a special school day, on which the lessons and exercises shall have reference to Arbor Day and its objects. Suggestions for School Programme.— Schools assemble at usual time, and the first hour to be devoted by the teachers of each class to —(1) Talks on trees. (2) Suitable recitations (3) Suitable readings. (4) Suitable songs. .Slake the time a special Nature-study day, devoted to trees, their growth, their use, their beauty. Impress the need for caring for trees in public parks and reserves. The work to be graded for the different classes. List of suitable subjects appended!. In infant classes the reading and tel.ing of stories and fairy tales relating to trees and flowers might be taken up. “ The Sun’s Babies ” contains a- fewsuitable readings. . After the roll call assemble the standard classes in school hall or gymnasium' for short speeches, song# (list appended), recitations {list appended). Boys of Standard VI might be appointed hon. rangers of reserves, etc. L : st of songs: —“’Neath the trees,’’ “The ash grove,” “Forest song,” “Under the greenwood tree,” “ The brave old oak.” " The rowan trefe,” “ Woodman, spare the tree,” Arbor Day anthem (tune. “God save the King”), “Welcome to Arbor Day,” “’lhe maple leaf” (Canadian song). List of recitations:—“The Oak Tree,” “The Song of the Leaves,” “ The Tree’s Complaint,’ “ The Three Trees,” “ They Have Cut the Wood Away.” “ The Passing of the Forest ” (Thaw). “ The Passing of the Forest ” (R eeves), “ What Dp We Plant?” “ Why Wo Keep Arbor Day,” “ An Exercise for Arbor Day.” “The ,Ripened Leaves.” “ Tha Tree” (I.ady Winchilsea). As local author:ties art- complaining about destruction and uprooting of trees by children, tone hers are requested to give special attention lo Iho necessity for protecting and caring for plaiv tations. JUBILEE PARK MEMORIAL. In my Arbor Day notes I have referred to the Jubilee Park. 'Tn an unfrequented part of this park wo come across the Jubilee Memorial, which fixes a landmark in British history, and which is also a constant reminder of what a few disinterested men can do to rescue a beauty spot from vandalism arid add to its beauties. On one side we lead, “This park was planted on the occasion of the Jubilee of If.M. Queen Victoria, 1837 ”; and another side shows: “The adjacent oak grove was planted in commemoration of the. Diamond Jubilee of 11. M. Queen Victoria, 1897 ‘Through coming centuries we Iruet, When wo are voiceless in the duet, Dunedin’s children,, well and strong, Will guard Victoria’s grove from harm.”* Not only do we. hope “ Victoria’s Grove” will be guarded from harm, but all other groves also. ' SONG AND SPEECH ARE COMPLEMENTS. “ A cultivated voice—one under control throughout its compass, ono that can bo modulated and inflected at will—is in itself a music, an indefinable melody, in no way interfering with tne significance of the utterance, but enhancing its value and its force. . . . The study of singing is a considerable aid lo the mastery of the singing voice. The vocalising of scales, up and down the compass', using the open vowels AH, Oil, 00, and after a time graduating and shading tlie tone diminuendo to fortissimo and back to diminuendo—paying marked attention lo the respiration in all practice—is an excellent discipline lor ‘ forming ’ the speaking voice. “ Again, the vowels should bo attacked suddenly, and end abruptly at varying degrees of intensity. “ Such practice should not be confined to the middle notes, but should combine the entire gamut or range of the student’s voice. “ Vary the practice nv striking a note, and after a deep breath, starting with open vowel AH or OH, speak very slowly, clearly, and evenly, a short sentence, returning to the vowel before the necessity to lake a fresh breath arises. This should be repeated throughout the vocal compass, both on tones .and semitones, and at xarying degrees of power. Great care must be taken lo observe that the quality of tho tone is good and pure, remembering that this cannot be the case if there is any rigidity of jaw, tongue, or throat.” Nafisil Resonance. —“ One of the com* monest difficulties that a teacher lias to com tend with is the absence of nasal resonanct —the primary difficulty being nasal obstruct tion, preventing the setting up in the nasal cavities of tho co-vibrations and overtone* which should be simultaneous with those taking place in the throat and mouthy if the voice is to bo of good and carrying quality.” The Soft Palate.—“ Upon the action of the soft palate and of tho tongue greatly depends the quality of the vocal sound. The soft palate is attached to the under part of the hard palate, which is itself the roof of the month rnd tho floor of the nose, and acts as a vocal sounding board. The soft palate hangs like a curtain over the root of the tongue; it is muscular and can be lengthened or shortened at will. In inhaling through the nostrils, the tongue heajis up and the soft palate descends, thus shutting off the mouth from the nose and the pharynx (the space above tho larynx).

Tlfis action can be leversed, and t!ie nose shut off from the mouth and the pharynx.” Sometimes the tonsils are enlarged End the uvula too long, in which casca the surgeon must be consulted.

The Mouth.—“ Careful observation of the variable cavity of the mouth should lead to the correction of muffled, nasal, and throaty qualities of voice, besides faults of pronunciation.” The sound issuing from

the larynx is the sann for all vowels, some 18 in number, and each vowel requires a different position of the mouth—“there must be 18 different of the variable cavity of the mouth. w Undcr i no circumstances must there be any rigidity of the throat or mouth or of any of their component parts, or the quality of the utterance will be spoilt.” When practising vowel sounds a generous use of the mirrot

is of great advantage. Everything must be done in open tones, forward in position, and pure in quality.